The Mandalorian Season 3 Just Pulled Off A Phantom Menace Deep Cut

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the second episode of "The Mandalorian" season 3.

In this latest episode of "The Mandalorian," the next place Din Djarin heads is to see his old friend Pelli Motto on Tatooine. He needs a droid to accompany him to Mandalore to analyze the air to see if it's really toxic and having struck out with IG-11 in the previous episode, he figures Pelli Motto might have the parts he needs. She doesn't, and sends him on his way with R5, a scaredy cat of a droid.

It's a great scene and a great touch to the world of "The Mandalorian," but fans will notice that it's a holiday on Tatooine, replete with fireworks. You see, it's Boonta Eve, an important holiday on the desert planet. 

Boonta Eve was first mentioned in "Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace." The podrace that Anakin Skywalker competed in was held for this occasion. This is a big holiday in Hutt culture on Tatooine, honoring a fellow Hutt for ascending to God-hood. Like any holiday, though, it caught on with the locals and the celebrations and merriment carried on for years, even without the Hutts in control of the planet.

During "The Phantom Menace," the podrace itself is called "The Boonta Eve Classic." This was the biggest race of the year held on Tatooine, but it looks like they started racing speeders in the streets of Mos Eisely, too. Setting this episode on Boonta Eve puts a firm date on the time of year that these episodes of "The Mandalorian" take place, and suggest that it's exactly that many years since Anakin beat Sebulba at the podrace. It's Tatooine, though, and we don't quite know what time of year that season is. All we know is that it's Boonta Eve.

As the Mandalorian takes off in his N1 Starship, fireworks explode in the desert night. It reminds one of the fireworks celebrating the end of the Empire in "Return of the Jedi," but it's something new. Grogu watches the fireworks with awe and wonder as he takes off for the next phase of his life.

When Anakin Skywalker left Tatooine, he wasn't able to see the fireworks to mark his victory or the celebration of Boonta Eve. It was straight to business for the young chosen one, heading directly to Coruscant to be paraded in front of the Jedi Council.

"The Mandalorian" is currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes release on Wednesdays.